Chapter 3: Sleepless Nights

A/N- Thanks to all of my reviewers. It's thanks to you that the story keeps going.

Disclaimer- Not mine, don't sue. See chapter 1 for full disclaimer

"Mum, we're here," said Ginny, brushing soot off of herself.

"Oh, hello Ginny. Harry dear, how good to see you!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley, giving him an enormous hug and cutting off the blood circulation to his head. He heard Ginny stifle a laugh.

"Hello Mrs. Weasley," he replied, glad to be at his second home. Mrs. Weasley explained she was cooking lunch and they would eat shortly. She then bustled towards the kitched to return to her cooking.

"Where's Ron?"

"He's upstairs with Hermione doing 'homework'," said Ginny with a wink. Harry understood her meaning and smiled back. "Well, I'm going to go clean myself up before lunch," began Ginny as she headed for the stairs.

"You really shouold Ginny. I mean, you're torture on the eyes," Harry joked and couldn't stop himself from laughing.

"Laughing at your own jokes, Mr. Potter?" inquired Ginny, heading back towards him and attempting to imitate Professor Snape. "Ten points from Gryffindor. And don't like you're face, ten more points."

The duo burst out laughing until Ginny finally decided it was time for her to clean herself up.

After she was gone, Harry bent down to grab his trunk and had begun heading towards the stairs. As he passed one of the windows, something caught his eye. A black hooded figure stood, lingering about 100 feet from the Burrow. However, he continued walking, as if it hadn't truly sunk in. A few steps later, Harry realized the full impact of what he had seen and rushed back to the window. There was nothing out of the ordinary and what was wrong before now stood correct. Harry felt a sickening sensation in the pit of his stomach but quickly smothered it and walked up the stairs, half of his mind in a panicked frenzy and the other attempting to repress the memory.

Harry heard a knock on his door and he jumped up and away from his Potions essay, which still lay incomplete on his desk.

"Ginny?"

"Hi, Harry," said Ginny, inviting herself into the room he and Ron were sharing.

Harry was mildly surprised at Ginny's sudden appearance. In truth, he had been excpecting Ron because he had told him he would be up soon.

Lunch had been a wonderful affair full of great smells, the food of course, and laughter echoing throughout the kitchen. The trio caught up on everything and anything that had taken place that summer and had taken up the majority of three hours. Ginny had snuck out just as Ron and Hermione had begun another row. Harry was sure he was the only one to see it. He knew Hermione was good friends with Ginny but even she had been otherwise preoccupied when Ginny had exited during the luncheon reunion.

"You looked surprised," stated Ginny jokingly as she made her way to sit on Ron's bed which was across the room from his.

"Ron was supposed to come and finish his homework with me."

"And...?"

Harry looked around at the bright orange walls and Chudley Cannon posters that were plastered in random parts of his room. "This is his room, after all, I would excpect to see him in it at one point or another."

Ginny giggled.

"What's so funny?" asked Harry, feeling slightly nervous and not having the slightest idea why.

Ginny got up and opened the door. The sound of Ron and Hermione arguing wafted up the stairs and into Harry's ears.

"RONALD WEASLEY! YOU... YOU..."

"What Hermione? I have red hair? Yes I know. I'm incredibly handsome? So I've been told. What are you trying to say? Just get on with it!"

"You prat! I can't believe you would say something like that."

The voices descended into harsh whispers.

"Extendable Ears?" offered Ginny with an innocent grin.

However, Harry's mind was far from the row happening downstairs. It dwelled on the black figure he had seen earlier that afternoon.

"What's wrong?" asked Ginny looking worried.

"It's nothing, Gin," Harry lied, shrugging his shoulders.

"Harry, living with six brothers, I know that nothing is always something," said Ginny, going to sit next to him on his bed. When Harry remained silent for a few minutes, Ginny reached out and held his hand in comfort. His skin tingled from where she ahd touched him.

Soon, he found himself telling her about the figure. After he was done, he carefully examined her face for any clues of the reaction to come. However it seemed as though she were thinking and wasn't quite sure what to make of the situation. "Why didn' you tell anyone, Harry?" Ginny finally asked.

"Because when I went back to see what it was, it was gone. I could have just imagined it," said Harry, convinced it was a legitamite excuse. Ginny begged to differ.

"Harry, you never imagine things," said Ginny, letting go of his hand. Harry's hand suddenly felt cold with the heat from hers.

There was a bang from downstairs. Harry and Ginny rushed down the steps. "You don't suppose they actually killed each other?" asked Ginny as they were about to reach the ground floor. Ginny's question was soon answered when they saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron, and Hermione all staring out the window, mouths agape.

Harry weasled his way to the front to get a look at what had them all shocked. 3 hooded figures were wandering around the property, randomly attacking objects with spells.

"The house has enchanments, I'm sure," muttered Mr. Weasley. Harry knew he was right. The Burrow would have adequate amount of protection but they had already managed to find the approximate location of the Weasley home, these Death Eaters seemed to know what they were doing.

"I'm going" said Harry, bringing his wand from his pocket. Ginny was the first one to snap back to reality and force him to stay inside.

Harry felt restless as he watched the Death Eaters near and circle the house, but they never found it. Eventually, they left and the Weasleys, Hermione and Harry each went to their respective room but none slept that night.

WOO-HOO! The plot has finally started. The next chapter will be the really big push-off though. Please please please review!

AlLiSon